Yesterday was a pretty good day for Mouse. After I last wrote, she spent most of the morning outside with her buddies. It was still warm but much cooler than the previous few days, and it was also a bit overcast. We brought her in during the hottest part of the day for a swim in the tub and her midday meds. She is really remarkable--still so strong, although getting her to eat is near impossible now. She loves her swims and swims from one end of the tub with gusto. She loves putting her head under the faucet, and we are so thankful she is drinking!
We kept her in for longer than usual yesterday because of the heat, but when we brought her back out, we let her hang with her friends supervised (no fence between them). We made a luck "Soup for Ducks," and she got excited and put her head in with Stella and Angus a couple times, although we're not really sure what she ate (if anything). She did nip at Stella when Stella was eating the soup on her side of the bowl...lol. After soup, we gave everyone a shower and made a mud muddle between them. She foraged a little in the muddy grass with Stella and Angus, and then she did an amazing job preening.
We brought her back in for her evening meds and bath, but he made it pretty quick so she could get back out and into her crate in the run. Angus slept slammed up against the crate all night.
Although it was a pretty good day in that she interacted with her buddies and seemed to enjoy her swims, she didn't eat much of anything.
This morning it was cool and raining, and we debated whether we should go out early and get her. We assume thermoregulation is a challenge with so little food on board. We decided to wait until about 7am though as everyone seemed quiet and content on the cameras.
She greeted us with a little quack and tail wag. She was alert and seemed comfortable. We brought her in and let her swim in a warmer-than-room-temperature bath, which she seemed to really enjoy! She dunked her head a lot and drank lots. We tempted her with different kinds of cat food, and she actually really perked up with the pate variety. She seemed most excited if we offered it to her in a cupped hand just below the water surface while she was swimming. She kind of nibbled at it each time, although she did not consume any significant amount.
With it cool and wet out, we decided to keep her inside after her bath and meds were done. She wandered into her indoor crate and has been resting there. While she was quite animated in the tub this morning, now she seems as relaxed and quiet as we have seen her. She is standing but with her bill tucked under her wing and her eyes mostly closing. She seems aware of us, but she seems very, very tired. Her breathing is normal, and she seems comfortable. It's in the mid-50s, and so we brought a small electric space heater into the bathroom where she is hanging out.
She is such a sweet girl. We told her it was okay to head off to find Piglet (Piglet was our other white silver Appleyard who died a couple years ago--they were great friends!) whenever she was ready. Here are some pictures of Mouse and Piglet together. They were inseparable and will be again!
and Mouse is sure heck of a trooper! What a sweet sounding girl. I am praying that she pulls through! You are amazing to be doing all this for her.
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